A Pony by Any Other Name

Drama Letter tucked the pieces of parchment into her saddlebag as she rushed down the dusty road. She was on her way to play practice at the Ponyville Theater, and for some reason, Drama Letter has slept in for longer than usual.

"I hope Fair Sophisticata and Fair Golden Hazel will forgive my tardiness," she murmured to herself as the theater came into view. Drama Letter quickened her pace, eager to show off the final additions to the script for the play she  and her drama friends were producing.

Drama Letter pushed open the doors and galloped straight up to the stage.

"Sophisticata, I ask for your forgiveness, as my absence is most unusual," Drama Letter gasped, out of breath from her run. Sophisticata, a mint green unicorn with a brown mane tied up in a neat bun, smiled a little bit.

"Don't beat yourself up, Drama Letter," she responded, "but we have!"

"Draaaaaaaama Letterrrrrrrrrrr!" The third member of their group, Golden Hazel, swooped down from the ceiling to join the girls. "I'm soooo glad your finally here! Me and Sophisticata-"

"Sophisticata and I," Sophisticata corrected her, but Golden Hazel paid no attention.

"-we were waiting for you but it's alright now and we can get down to business because I looove to work on plays! And this play will be the best play in the whole world!" As Golden Hazel chattered, Drama Letter's eyes followed her poofy orange mane, bouncing with every word Golden Hazel said.

"I, too, enjoy theatre," Drama Letter responded cheerfully, pulling out the script. Sophisticata immediately grabbed it in her orange magic aura and silently began to read. Drama Letter and Golden Hazel watched her scan the pages.

Drama Letter had finished a short play about a mare who felt unlucky because everywhere she went, vases were accidentally dropped on her head. It turned out that her friend had enchanted the vases to pop up anywhere she went, but the enchantment went wrong and the vases landed on her head instead! In the end, the mare is friend broke the enchantment and they ate cake to celebrate.

Drama Letter smiled as she recapped the play in her mind.

"Very nice," Sophisticata commented, glancing up at Drama Letter as she neared the end of the script.

"I'm going to be the main character, right?" Golden Hazel asked, excitedly flapping her wings.

"'All the world's a stage,'" Drama Letter quoted. "Oh! Uh, does thou not always play the lead role?" Golden Hazel giggled.

"Yeah!" She responded. Drama Letter grinned.

"Uh, Drama Letter, can I talk to you for a moment?" Sophisticata asked quietly.

"You may," Drama Letter said.

"We'll be right back," Sophisticata told Golden Hazel, who simply nodded.

"What does thou wish to speak to me about?" Drama Letter asked as Sophisticata led her to the stage wings. Sophisticata hesitated, then held up the script.

"Golden Hazel is a brilliant actor, don't get me wrong, but I was wondering if I could play the main character this time," Sophisticata explained.

"Then who shall Fair Golden Hazel act as?" Drama Letter asked. "Does it not make more sense to cast Golden Hazel as the main part?" Sophisticata thought for a moment, then sighed.

"It's not worth the change, you're right," she admitted, lowering the parchment. "Golden Hazel will be Flowery Danger."

"Yes, but is there anything else I can accommodate you with?" Drama Letter asked as they returned to Golden Hazel. "I should not want any of my wonderful friends unhappy."

"It's fine," Sophisticata insisted.

"Hey." Golden Hazel stood right in front of them, and Drama Letter almost bumped into her. She and Sophisticata turned their attention to the sandy-gold pegasus. Her expression was hard, like a timberwolf that had just cornered prey.

"What is it, Golden Hazel?" Sophisticata asked.

"You guys are wasting time," Golden Hazel trumped. "Keeping secrets from your lead performer when we could be practicing!" Drama Letter exchanged a glance with Sophisticata. Golden Hazel's mood could change in an instant.

Fitting she's a pegasus, Drama Letter mused, because she's as unpredictable as weather in the Everfree!

"Hazy, calm down," Sophisticata told her.

"Please, Fair Golden Hazel," Drama Letter added. Golden Hazel crossed her arms over her chest.

"I QUIT!" She yelled, so loudly Drama Letter thought the ponies in Manehattan could hear them. Golden Hazel flapped her wings and took off for the exit.

"Wait!" Sophisticata called, putting a hoof out as if to stop Golden Hazel.

"We need thou to continue practice!" Drama Letter added. Sophisticata jumped off the stage, and Drama Letter followed.

"Berry Punch, stop Golden Hazel!" Sophisticata yelled, waving her hooves frantically. Drama Letter watched as she dashed out the door. She was now left alone, standing at the exit to the theater.

"I suppose that extra running now serves no useful purpose," she sighed.

Drama Letter cantered back to the stage to collect the pages of her script. Sophisticata had strewn them on the stage after rushing after Golden Hazel.

After packing up her saddlebags, Drama Letter stopped by the bulletin board, which held notices for events such as book clubs, poetry readings, and acting classes for fillies and colts.

One flier in particular, a pale grey one, caught Drama Letter's eye.

"'Poetry Reading by Indigo Wreath Tomorrow,'" she read, knowing that "tomorrow" meant "today", "'at Golden Oaks Library. Come from 7 until noon, with breaks every half hour. Twilight Sparkle and Bon Bon will be serving biscuits.'

"Well," Drama Letter decided, "It seems that in place of play practice, I shall be listening to Indigo Wreath's lovely poetry for a short while."